Railing post shoe anchor apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a means to achieve enhanced load distribution and bearing capacity for posts in the construction environment. In particular, the present invention provides a means to secure a load bearing post to a substrate such as concrete in applications including the construction of high-rise building balconies. Additionally, the present invention provides ease and versatility in mounting at the site of the work. The application of the present invention provides increased reliability and longevity under environmental and load stresses. Further, the unique geometry of the present invention contributes to an ease, cost effectiveness, and consistency of manufacture unattainable by competitive technologies while reducing material waste and product failure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to mounting technologies used tosecure railing posts to solid substrates. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to methods and apparatus employed to provide a meansto engage railing systems at the site of installation in theconstruction environment. The application of the present invention foranchoring railings is appropriate where increased stress capacity, easeof installation, and resistance to failure is desired. This inventionfinds particular application in the anchoring of balcony railing postsin high-rise building construction wherein significant environmentalstresses affect railing performance and where considerable longevity andreliability are desirable. Additionally, the present invention providesthe installer with increased options in means of fastening tosubstrates. The present invention may be fastened to a variety ofsubstrates including concrete, steel, and wood substrates.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior art embodiments of shoe anchors are of a variety of geometriesgenerally exploiting the advantages of the structural strength providedby L and U shaped railing cradles and engagements. These anchoringdevices may be of stainless steel, cast iron or alloy, or aluminumconstruction. Prior art embodiments have limitations in terms of theenvironmental stresses that they are able to withstand over extendedperiods of time and exposure. Aluminum material generally provides thegreatest performance albeit at increased and occasionally prohibitivecost due to manufacturing difficulties in addition to the raw materialcost. Present technologies have limited lifetimes particularly thoseemploying stainless steel, iron, or alloy constructions. Failure ratesincrease over time and require extensive and costly maintenance in thehigh-rise environment. The currently employed shoe anchor geometrieshave load limitations which necessitate increased redundancies in highstress environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits the installation and is of enhancedbenefit to the builder in the anchoring of fences, balconies, and safetyrailings in the substrates common to these applications including wood,steel, and concrete. The present invention provides particularadvantages to the builder of high rise units with balconies whereinenvironmental stresses are of increased and immediate concern in termsof safety, reliability, and longevity. Such environments are susceptibleto stresses arising from wind, rain, snow, and a variety of otherfactors impacting the performance of exposed external elements such asrailings and their mounting components. While providing enhancedperformance in the provision of railing mounting means, the presentinvention additionally eases manufacturability and reduces materialwaste therein. Within the manufacturing process, the current inventionallows the production of railing post shoe anchors through extrusion andsubsequent machining to arrive at a precision, quality, and consistencygenerally unachievable with standard technologies. Furthermore, the easeof manufacture of the present invention allows the builder to selectaluminum material for the construction of anchoring devices without theburden of undue costs generally associated with the implantation of thismaterial. The application of the present invention increases thestructural integrity of railing post mounting, increases mountingversatility, minimizes failure, and reduces requirements for redundancy.In production, the present invention reduces material cost and easesmanufacturability. The implementation of the present invention enhancesapplication safety, longevity, and reliability thereby providing amethod and apparatus generally free of the deficiencies of the priorart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a railing post shoeanchor apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchorapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchorapparatus.

FIG. 4 is a frontal cross-section of an embodiment of a railing postshoe anchor apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a side profile of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchorapparatus.

FIG. 6 is a side profile of two railing post shoe anchors positioned inopposition to one another prior to separation from a single block ofmaterial.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchorprior to final processing.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a single block of material prior to separationinto discrete railing post shoe anchors.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single block of material prior toseparation into discrete railing post shoe anchors.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shoe anchor of the present inventionengaged with a section of railing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to better understand the embodiment of the present invention,an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 through 10. An embodiment of a railing postshoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 1 wherein said railing postshoe anchor 1 is of rigid material equipped with a post receptacle 3,and mounting holes such as holes 5, 7, and 9. Mounting holes such asholes 5, 7, and 9 provide means to anchor the railing post shoe anchor 1directly to a substrate such as concrete, steel, or wood as required.The railing post shoe anchor 1 is provided with a flat surface on itsmounting side 10 in order to facilitate substrate engagement. Arectangular post receptacle 3 is shown on the engagement side of thebase shoe anchor 1 for the ready engagement of a rectangular posthowever it is understood that the depicted rectangular geometry may bealtered to accommodate a variety of post forms without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. The engagement side of the base shoe anchor1 is provided such that material thickness tapers from its thickest atthe post receptacle 3 end to thinner material at the mounting end at aconstant angle providing advantages both in structural integrity andmanufacturability.

Another view of an embodiment of a shoe anchor apparatus is provided asin FIG. 2. A shoe anchor 11 is provided with post receptacle 13, deeprecessed mounting holes 15 and 25, recessed mounting holes 17 and 23,and apertures 19, 21, and 27. Herein, deeply recessed mounting holes 15and 25 may be tapped to facilitate fastening said shoe anchor apparatus11 to a substrate as required by means of screw. Additional fasteningfacility is provided by recessed mounting holes 17 and 23 wherein saidholes may be tapped to allow screw mounting or a bolt configuration maybe used. Apertures 19, 21, and 27 may be used to provide additionalmounting or handling means. Upon mounting said shoe anchor 11 using anyof the mounting methods described, holes may be filled with material,generally grout, to promote and reinforce the structural integrityprovided by the tapered geometry.

An embodiment of a shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 3. Ashoe anchor 29 is illustrated frontally with deeply recessed mountingholes 31 and 37 as in previous views. Recessed mounting positions 33 and35 are also provided as before.

An embodiment of a shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 4. Thedeeply recessed mounting holes 41 and 47 of the railing post shoe anchor39 are shown in cross section. Said deeply recessed mounting holes 41and 47 are provided with tapped holes 43 and 45 terminating at thesubstrate mounting surface 46 of the shoe anchor 39. Said tapped holes43 and 45 can provide screw fastening facility of the shoe anchor 39 tothe desired substrate at the site of the work.

Another embodiment of the shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG.5. The shoe anchor 49 is shown in side profile to demonstrate theconstant taper of the apparatus from post engagement end 50 to themounting end 52. Material is shown to be removed from the contiguousmaterial of the device at recessed hole 51 corresponding to the relativepositions of recessed mounting holes in other views such as recessedmounting holes 17 and 23 of FIG. 2 and recessed mounting holes 33 and 35of FIG. 3.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is provided as in FIG. 6wherein 2 shoe anchors 53 and 59 are shown in opposing positions inprofile view. This view is provided to demonstrate that 2 identical shoeanchors 53 and 59 may be cut from a single rectangular block ofmaterial. In order to achieve said identical shoe anchors 53 and 59, acut is made along the diagonal 61. Equal amounts of material may beremoved at end points 63 and 55 to reduce the length of said shoeanchors and as required by the application. Material may be furtherremoved at recessed holes 65 and 57 corresponding to recessed mountingholes 17 and 23 of FIG. 2 and recessed mounting holes 33 and 35 of FIG.3.

An embodiment of the present invention and specifically one of the shoeanchors depicted in FIG. 6 is provided as in FIG. 7 shown from above.Herein, the shoe anchor 67 is provided with post receptacle 69, mountingholes 71, 73, 79, and 81, and apertures 83, 77, and 75 as before.Mounting holes 71, 73, 79, and 81 are shown to be of identical diameterprior to further processing as required by the application.

An embodiment of the present invention prior to separation into discreteshoe anchors is provided as in FIG. 8. A single block of multiple shoeanchors 85 is shown from above provided with a left post receptacle 87and a right post receptacle 93. Mounting holes of identical diametersuch as holes 89 and 91 are shown to demonstrate potential mountingoptions once shoe anchors are separated from the single block of shoeanchors 85 and processed to meet the mounting requirements of thedesired application.

Another embodiment of the present invention prior to separation intodiscrete shoe anchors is provided as in FIG. 9. A single block ofmultiple shoe anchors 95 is shown in perspective view. Said single blockof multiple shoe anchors 95 is provided with a left post receptacle 99and a right post receptacle 97 to demonstrate the relative position ofthese apertures within said block and corresponding to those describedin previous figures. Holes and further mounting and handling aperturesare also provided as before demonstrating their relative positions.

An embodiment of the present invention is provided as in FIG. 10.Herein, a shoe anchor 103 is engaged with a section of post 101. Saidsection of post 101 is mechanically engaged with said shoe anchor 103 atpost receptacle 111. Once the flat shoe anchor base 109 is fastened toan appropriate substrate using mounting holes such as holes 105 and 107,the shoe anchor 103 distributes load placed upon said post 101 along itsbase 109 and thus transfers said load to the substrate as intended bythe application of the present invention. Set screws and holes thereforemay be introduced to mechanically secure said post 101 within said postreceptacle 111. Various other means of securing said post 101 withinsaid post receptacle 111 may be employed without departing from thespirit of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:
 1. A railing post shoe anchor apparatuscomprising: (a) a rigid body; (b) a post receptacle; (c) mounting holes;(d) handling apertures.
 2. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as inclaim 1, wherein said rigid body is of contiguous material providingstructural integrity as required by the application.
 3. A railing postshoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said rigid body is taperedfrom the post engagement end to the mounting end in order to distributeload stress as required by the application.
 4. A railing post shoeanchor apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said rigid body is tapered fromthe post engagement end to the mounting end in order to promote ease ofmanufacture.
 5. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1,wherein said post receptacle is of geometry to mechanically engage arailing post as required by the application.
 6. A railing post shoeanchor apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said post receptacle may beequipped with set screws to secure a post upon installation.
 7. Arailing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mountingholes are provided for mounting the apparatus to a substrate.
 8. Arailing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said mountingholes may be configured to provide facility to fasten the apparatus to asubstrate by means of tapped screw.
 9. A railing post shoe anchorapparatus as in claim 7, wherein said mounting holes may be configuredto provide facility to fasten the apparatus to a substrate by means ofnut and bolt.
 10. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 7,wherein said mounting holes may be of a combination of tapped screw, nutand bolt, and other configurations providing substrate fastening means.11. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein saidmounting holes are of configuration and number to provide fasteningmeans sufficient to bear the load requirements of the application.
 12. Arailing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mountingholes may be filled with material, such as grout, in order to promotestructural integrity upon installation on a substrate.
 13. A railingpost shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said handlingapertures provide ease of transport and positioning at the site ofinstallation of the apparatus.
 14. A railing post shoe anchor apparatusas in claim 1, wherein said handling apertures may be filled withmaterial, such as grout, in order to promote structural integrity uponinstallation on a substrate.
 15. A railing post shoe anchor methodcomprising: (a) a single contiguous block of material; (b) mirroredapertures; (c) symmetrical separation.
 16. A railing post shoe anchormethod as in claim 15, wherein said a single contiguous block ofmaterial may be extruded to form the profile of the railing post shoeanchor apparatus thereby providing an ease of manufacture of multiplerailing post shoe anchor apparatus.
 17. A railing post shoe anchormethod as in claim 15, wherein said mirrored apertures are comprised ofmounting holes, handling apertures, and post receptacles mirrored alonga centre line of the profile of the single block of material.
 18. Arailing post shoe anchor method as in claim 17, wherein said mirroredapertures allow the ease of manufacture of opposed pairs of identicalrailing post shoe anchor apparatus upon separation.
 19. A railing postshoe anchor method as in claim 15, wherein said symmetrical separationdescribes the separation of pairs of opposed railing post shoe anchorapparatus into identical components.
 20. A railing post shoe anchormethod as in claim 15, wherein said symmetrical separation is performedalong a diagonal providing the taper from the receptacle end to themounting end of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus thereby providing aload bearing and distribution advantage to the railing post shoe anchorapparatus upon implementation in the intended application.